We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
The clocks went back in Britain last night, which gave us an extra hour to get ready for the big one - Chelsea vs. Liverpool. Chelsea haven't lost at the Bridge for yonks, but it would really open up the Premiership for Liverpool to choose today to turn them over.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 9:06 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
136 Comments:
Here are the teams for today:
Liverpool team: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Aurelio, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Gerrard, Riera, Keane. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Benayoun, Pennant, Babel, Leiva Lucas.
Chelsea team: Cech, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Kalou, Deco, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka. Subs: Cudicini, Ivanovic, Di Santo, Sinclair, Ferreira, Alex, Belletti.
Injuries for both sides. No Xavi Alonso or Fernando Torres for Liverpool. No Essien, Ballack or Drogba for Chelski.
Both sides start with only one out and out striker - Robbie Keane for Pool and Anelka for Chelski.
And we're off - come on you reds!
Deco with the first half chance. The ball bobbled out from a challenge on Anelka and his shot was charged down.
GOAL! Liverpool get the perfect start. Chelski were sloppy defending a throw deep in their half and when the ball came out to Xavi, his left foot shot deflected off JT into the back of the net.
1-0 Liverpool!
Now Chelski look uncharacteristically nervy at the back. Half chance for Keane there.
That goal has really opened things up nicely, Lamps playing Kalou through there for a decent chance, well saved by Reina.
Liverpool have another decent but Riera wasted the chance by firing into the side netting from an acute angle while Keane was waiting for a ball across the goal.
Gerrard lines up a piledriver and it's just tipped over by Cech.
A bit more sustained pressure now from the Blues.
Deco hits a screamer at the end of a long diagonal run that's just a bit wide.
David Pleat has just made a reasonably intelligent comment that the Chelski bench doesn't have any game changers.
Half-time: 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool go in feeling pretty good about their situation. They could probably sit on this lead a bit in the second half before having to change things.
The sides are back on for the second half. My 1-1 prediction is looking tantalizingly good right now. I could definitely see Chelski pinching a goal and both sides settling for a draw.
This could be interesting. The youngsters Di Santo and Ivanovich are warming up for Chelski.
Maloudi is flattened by Reina; fortunately for the Pool keeper, the flag had already been raised on the French winger.
Yes, here we're going to get a look at Chelski's young Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo.
Kuyt tries his luck from distance but it's a wild drive.
Belletti is also coming on for Malouda. That's a strange move for Scolari given that his team needs goals.
Robbie Keane's coming off for Ryan Babbel. Keano's still not fitting in in the Liverpool red to my mind.
Half an hour left in this one. Liverpool have a chance from a free kick here...
Alonso takes and hits the foot of the post! Cech didn't even move there.
Good stuff from Howard Webb. Cashley is already on a yellow and Mascherano was advocating for a second one there. I love it that refs are starting to book players for that nonsense. Cashley's on thin ice, mind you.
As Chelski press, they're leaving huge gaps at the back that might be exploited by Babbel.
Three other matches are starting up now:
Citeh vs. Stoke
Spurs vs. Bolton
Wigan vs. Villa
Twenty minutes left for Chelski to dig this one out.
Cashley with a big chance there. Lamps chipped one in, Di Santo nodded down brilliantly but Cashley just couldn't adjust his run to ram a left-footed shot in.
Di Santo's certainly proving himself as a useful target man. He's really slight but he's got tremendous spring.
Bit of handbags there between Reina and JT. Howard Webb is doing a fine job calming things down.
Still 0-0 in those matches that started at 11 a.m.
Pool are doing a nice job defending from the front. They're ten minutes away from breaking that huge record. And what a difference that would make to the Premiership table with Liverpool jumping out to 23 points.
One last roll of the dice for Big Phil. Bosingwa off and Scott Sinclair is on. He's a bit of a speed merchant but that doesn't seem to suit this game.
Dirk Kuyt is finally coming off and working his socks off.
Sami Hyppia is coming on to shore things up for the last few key moments.
A rousing chorus of You'll Never Walk Alone now from the away support. They'll start to dream about another championship. They're now eight points ahead of United, although the Red Devils have a game against Fulham in hand.
Full-time: Chelski 0 Liverpool 1
Chelski's first home defeat since 2004 and it blows the lid off the league table.
I lost ten points on the early match but I'm doing pretty well in the others.
Citeh, Villa and most amazingly, Spurs are all 1-0 up their matches.
The Arse-Hammers match is coming up on FSC. Just about to kick off....
Robinho on the scoresheet again for Citeh this morning and it's good to see Roman Pavlyuchenko off the mark for Spurs.
I am here from our game. We lost 3-2 with the VERY LAST kick of the game. I scored and had an assist but we played horribly.
I think it is a good result this morning. I don't want Costa Del Pool to win the league by any means but I think they will blow more games than the Blues.
Glad the undefeated record has gone.
What about 'Appy ' Arry going to Spurs?
Looked like a good shout for a penalty there as Upson and RVP came together but no claim from the Arsenal players.
Goal at Citeh and it goes to Citeh
Welcome, Dave! Sorry about your match. That's your first loss, right?
Robinho scores again
Another goal for Robinho - he's on a tear.
Correct... LAST BLOODY KICK
I think Redknapp's a good choice for Spurs right now. He'll shore up things. I don't expect them to be relegated. They're far too good for that but Juande had lost the dressing room.
I've predicted 1-0 for them today and so far, so good there.
Nice save by Almunia.. Duck soup really
Why is Adebayor on the bench?
Why Bendtner rather than Adebayor? Are they resting him for midweek?
Snap!
Villa score a second goal - Agbonlahor.
Stevie Bruce has a nasty gash under his right eye? Looks like he was in a bar fight. It's all stitched up Frankenstein-like.
Belamy trying a shot from NEWCASTLE!
Not much of a pattern to this match so far. Zola promised flowing football today but we haven't seen muuch.
Robbie Earle thinks there are no natural wingers on the pitch. Ahem...Theo Walcott, anyone?
A third goal for Villa! Ag crossed well for big John Carew to nod home easily. That's my prediction 3-0. Thirty points, taverymuch.
Looks like Stevie B. will need to soak his head in another gin joint tonight after this drubbing. Wigan are useless.
Oh, great run by Theo and a shot that I thought hit the bar but the commentator thinks Green saved. Maybe a bit of both.
Villa three nil, what has happened. I just turned on the link. It is the only game available
Arsenal are starting to turn the screw and you feel a goal coming from them soon.
You were right, goalkick
Bolton down to ten men. McCann off for a second yellow
Great safe by Brad at Wigan
Zola's gone with three forwards but they're defending so deep that you're got Di Michaeli and Cole clearing the lines rather than leading any sort of counter-attack. That leaves the increasingly petulant Craig Bellamy stranded.
Yeah, it was. He's still one of the best in the Premiership.
Was that a handball? I think it was!!!
HANDBALL
Oh, Rob Green was a mile outside the box there when he touched it.
Great move and save there by Green from Walcott.
Wigan are getting close. Another great save by Brad
Also by Robert "handball" Green
Arsenal never have someone running into the crucial area at set pieces. That was a brilliant corner in by RVP but no one was in the six yard box!
United are down to sixth. If Pompey win later on, it will 7th
Bellamy one on one. Good save
Fantastic save there by Almunia, England's next #1, from Bellamy. That's probably the best chance the Hammers will have today.
Well, you lot can count on three points from Fulham, but that still puts you five points off the top. I'm with you - I don't think that Liverpool have the strength to go the distance but it'll be a more exciting run in than usual.
I really don't want Almunia to play for England. Do you? I never liked a foreign manager and now the same with a player. I don't care about it being legal, I don't like it. Your thoughts?
Spurs now 2-0 up through a penalty from Bent. Surely this'll be their first win of the season. They'll still be bottom, though.
Bent scores Spurs second. The APPY ARRY era has begun
Yeah, I'd take Almunia in a heartbeat. We need a world class goalkeeper if England is going to go beyond the quarter-finals in 2010. Who would you rather have in goal for penalties against Portugal in the quarters - Almunia or Rob Green?
HE IS SPANISH!!!!!
Robinho completes his hat-trick. 3-0 Citeh! Wow! That's my prediction there too. Thirty points!
Ronhino with his hat-trick
He could be Martian for all I care.
Fingers crossed
Eboue should have had a pop there. It may not be the Arsenal way but that's why it's still 0-0 and Arsenal are fourth rather than first. Xavi Alonso had a go from a similar position this morning and it cannoned off JT and into the goal for the winner.
useless counter attack by the Hammers
I'll remind you that in the WC 2006 quarter final penalty shoot-out with Portugal, Paul Robinson never came close to any of the five Portuguese penalties while their keeper Ricardo not only saved two but scored the bloody winner! Goalkeepers matter.
Bellamy' s shot this time was only from Leeds
Bellamy needs to wind down his clock a bit. He's been shooting every time he touches the ball no matter where he is on the pitch and he's hitting the corner flag every time.
I know, but he is SPANISH!!!
You mean that his shot ended up in Leeds!
As Gerry Harrison would say on Match of the Week.
HIGH, WIDE and HORRIBLE
No, he shot it from Leeds. He was so far out
Sidwell scores Villa's fourth
Half time at Upton Park. All square
Villa win 4-0
NEWS FLASH
SPURS WIN, SPURS WIN!!
Citeh is over too
The commentators are hyping that first half but I didn't see it as anything but an ordinary half of Premiership footie. It's not like there were five goals and two red cards or summit.
Brilliant - I get mucho points off all three of those early ones. I've got Arsenal 2-1 in this one. We'll see.
The Saints and Chargers have started at Wembley. THEY BETTER NOT CUT IT ALL UP!!!
Why on earth are they playing at Wembley? Is there nothing sacred these days?
$$$$$$$$$$$$$
What do you think - is it strange to see Silvestre in an Arsenal shirt for you?
Who is managing Pompey today? Adams?
Yes
Shocking. Everything's for sale.
Oh dear, Arsenal's sick note RVP has gone down in a heap.
Robbie Earle has never seen a foul that he'd call. You'd think that he was a member of the Defender's Union or something!
Now that's odd - seeing Tony Adams on the Pompey bench. How much damage did Arsene have to do to scare him away from Highbury?
I have to go soon to a Halloween party but I have the Pompey link going.
Is Defoe going follow 'Arry and go back to Spurs?
Song edges Bellamy off the ball and somehow picks up a yellow card for that. A bit harsh.
Adams definitely won't follow to Spurs
They could use him. Why is anyone having a Halloween party today? It's on bloody Friday, isn't it?
Great pace by Bellamy but useless layoff
How many times is Redknapp going to bail out on Portsmouth, though?
It was supposed to be yesterday but got rained out
Scottie Parker has spent more time on the turf today than the groundskeeper!
I think Pompey sold him... they needed the money
Why not have it in July then?
I don't like the Hammers' kits since they lost their sponsorship. They look like rounders pinnies with the huge numbers on the front. Why not just have a plain shirt?
Abu Diaby coming on. Adebayor too. It's the Champions League heroes. What's Arsene been waiting for?
I have to leave. Have a good rest of the weekend.
Two things to leave you with
PLAY UP POMPEY and
UP WITH THE HAMMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least Arsenal are starting to let fly with some shots. Banjo Boy off the line there.
Cheers, mate! Have a good Night Before Night Before Night Before Night Before Night Before All Saint's Day party!
Even Arsenal have resorted to the long throw routine now.
Great save from Rob Green from RVP!
Oh, what a free kick from Van Persie! Struck it off the post with Rob Green clean beaten.
GOAL! Finally Arsenal break the deadlock. It was messy in the end but the build-up was mesmerizing. Adebayor struck a probing shot and it was deflected in by Faubert for an own goal.
West 0 Arsenal 1 Sorry Trev!
Zola's rolling the dice bringing on Boa Morte for a last charge. Fifteen minutes left now.
Adebayor nearly adds a second there. Another great save from Green and then he lifted the rebound over.
Coming down to the last five minutes here at Upton Park.
Hammers are bringing on a kid who looks about twelve to replace Bowyer.
Still a chance for the Hammers to wing another corner in here. The Gunners need to be careful.
2-0! Adebayor is the outlet after the Hammers push up at the corner. Bendtner finds him beautifully. He skips past Green and side foots in. Quality finish.
Wow! Carlton Cole has been sent off right at the death. I didn't see anything that extraordinary there. He did lunge in but I'd have given yellow. Straight red and he's off!
And Zola's looks could kill on the bench. Real daggers going out to Phil Dowd from the Italian.
I saw Cole yelling at Dowd about 90 seconds earlier about a throw-in given Arsenal's way that he was disputing. I think that Dowd had told Cole to calm down. The throw-in was taken, the ball pinged around and then the next incident in the game was Cole's reckless challenge. Dowd probably saved him a yellow at the expense of a red. It was a very silly thing to do, both the tackle and the red card, tbf.
That was the most unsettling 2-0 win I've paced through in weeks. Nasri and Eboue were anonymous, RVP and Theo were cameo pieces only, and it wasn't until Adebayor came on that it really seemed to tilt our way.
Song was a monster all over the pitch and but for Adebayor's turning the game, was my man of the match. And though he had a frightening moment or two, Gallas did well. And Almunia was again super.
It's not like us to take advantage of a stumble by rivals. Thank goodness we did.
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